Low-level laser treatment's ability to reduce dry socket pain

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Pain Management

Background:

• Dry socket (alveolitis) is a painful post-extraction complication.
• Traditional treatments include antiseptic dressings like Alvogyl.
• There is a need for more effective pain management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLT) for treating dry socket.
• To compare LLT with conventional Alvogyl treatment for alveolitis symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2000 and 2023.
• Searched databases: PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane.
• Included five selected studies for meta-analysis.

Main Results:

• Laser therapy was superior to Alvogyl in managing alveolitis symptoms, especially pain reduction.
• A statistically significant mean difference of -2.01 in pain was observed on day three (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLT) demonstrates potential for managing dry socket symptoms, particularly pain.
• LLT is not yet a conclusive substitute for conventional therapies.
• Further high-quality studies are required to confirm efficacy and clinical applicability.